County by county news for Tuesday

The value drop for the 107,000 or 46.5 percent of the properties, is due to market conditions or to state law requirements. Only about 600 properties increased in value due to market conditions.

The assessments include a tax estimate, but does not include any of Marietta’s city homestead and related exemptions or the Marietta school tax exemption.

Information: www.cobbassessor.org Janel Davis

Deal keynote speaker at luncheon today

Gov. Nathan Deal will be the keynote speaker for the 60th annual Atlanta Regional Military Affairs Council Luncheon today at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The luncheon is held to honor service members and recognize their sacrifices for the country. The event will also include a ceremony for fallen soldiers and the presentation of the 2012 USO Patriot of the Year Award. The 11 a.m. luncheon is presented by the Military Affairs Council and the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee. Information: www.cobbchamber.org; 770-859-2334 Janel Davis

Author to speak at Booked for Lunch

Author Wendy Wax will be the featured speaker during the Cobb Library Foundation’s Booked for Lunch event on Wednesday. Wax, a Florida native and current suburban Atlanta resident, has written books that have been included in the Rhapsody Book Club.

The fundraiser luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Marietta Country Club, 1400 Marietta Country Club Drive, Kennesaw. Tickets: $25.

Information: www.cobblibraryfoundation.org Janel Davis

Free health fair for seniors on Wednesday

Cobb Senior Services will hold a free health fair on Wednesday in Marietta.

Activities will be catered toward seniors age 55 and older, their caregivers and adult children. Hearing, glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and skin cancer screenings will be provided. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the East Cobb Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta.

Information: 770-528-1445; www.cobbcounty.org/seniors Janel Davis

Police offer vacation checks

Powder Springs residents can relax while on vacation -- thanks to their police department’s “Vacation Checks” program. Major Matt Boyd said police officers will stop by the residences of those who request this assistance “once a day” to “check your windows, doors and back of your house.” Information: 770-943-1616 or email Boyd at mboyd@cityofpowdersprings.org. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

Library hosts ‘Cards for Troops’

The South Cobb Regional Library will host a “Cards for Troops” event on Saturday at 805 Clay Road, Mableton.

All ages are welcome to drop by anytime from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to make a free card of encouragement for our soldiers.

Library staff will provide the materials and take care of the delivery. Information: 678-398-5828. Carolyn Cunningham for the AJC

GWINNETT

Group to protest transportation tax

The Georgia Taxpayers Alliance plans to demonstrate against a proposed transportation sales tax measure from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today outside the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

Voters will decide on July 31 whether to approve a new one percent sales tax to pay for a host of road and transit projects.

The sales tax could raise about $7 billion for transportation improvements in the 10-county Atlanta area over 10 years. David Wickert

Fire at doctor’s office called suspicious

Gwinnett County authorities are investigating a suspicious fire early Sunday that heavily damaged a doctor’s office.

Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said the blaze was reported about 4:20 a.m. Sunday at Atlanta Gyn-Ob in the 400 block of Pleasant Hill Road near Lilburn.

While Rutledge stopped short of calling the fire arson, he said, “fire investigators are not releasing specific information about the fire, but have called the circumstances suspicious in nature.” Mike Morris

Buildings cited for green design

Two Gwinnett County public buildings have been recognized for their environmentally friendly designs.

The U.S. Green Building Council recently awarded LEED Gold certifications to the county’s Senior Services Center in Lawrenceville and its Yellow River Water Reclamation Facility in Lilburn. The LEED program uses a variety of criteria to judge the design, construction and operation of buildings that use less water and energy. David Wickert

First lady to read to students

The We Give Books ReadMobile tour is headed to Lilburn on today to deliver more than 500 new children’s books to Gwinnett County’s Hopkins Elementary School. These students also will have a special guest reader, Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal. Students from more than 25 schools will receive a special visit and books because of their participation in the national online reading celebration called Read for My School. The books are being provided by the Pearson Foundation, a nonprofit that sponsors innovative educational programs. Nancy Badertscher

County prepares for Memorial Day

Gwinnett County will sponsor a Memorial Day ceremony at 1 p.m. May 28 at the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

Information: www.gwinnettfallenheroes.com. David Wickert

Bryson Park set to open

Lilburn’s 69-acre Bryson Park, whose planned opening in March was delayed by weather, is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.

Built from SPLOST funds, the $8.5 million park on Lawrenceville Highway 29 near Hood Road features a track-encircled artificial turf field for football, soccer and lacrosse, among other things. Michael Alpert for the AJC

NORTHSIDE

Forsyth annual reports ready for viewing

Forsyth county officials say both the county’s 2011 annual report and the 2011 fire department report are now available for perusal.

Both reports can be picked up at the Forsyth County Administration Building at 110. E. Main St. in Cumming.

The publications can also be viewed online at www.forsythco.com Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Workshop teaches about scam artists

North Fulton seniors can learn how to keep from being victimized by scam artists at a workshop today offered by Fulton County Housing and Community Development. “Be Aware of the Tricks of the Trade: Guarding against Senior Scams” runs from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Crabapple Neighborhood Senior Center, 12624 Broadwell Road, Alpharetta.

Information and special accommodations: 404-613-7944. Johnny Edwards

Camp Kingfisher summer camp to begin

Roswell’s Camp Kingfisher summer camp, named best day camp by Atlanta Parent Magazine, will have one- and two-week sessions from May 29 through Aug. 10. Information: 770-992-2055, ext. 232, or campkingfisher@chattnaturecenter.org Online registration forms: chattnaturecenter.org/camp-registration.

Michael Alpert fort the AJC

Sequoyah High student receives honor

Sequoyah High School student Sylvester Williams has been named one of 16 honorees for the inaugural Colored Rocks Prize. The Colored Rocks Foundation honor goes to male Georgia high school seniors from diverse ethnic backgrounds who excel in service and academics.

Williams was lauded for working with African-American Boy Scouts. Mark Woolsey for the AJC

Roswell Garden Club to hold flower show

The Roswell Garden Club will host a free flower show at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Garden club members will be on hand to answer gardening questions.

Information: www.roswellgardenclub.com.  Bob Howard

Holy Innocents scores big on Spanish exam

Students at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School of Atlanta won 14 gold awards in a national Spanish exam testing their comprehension.

Level II Spanish students were awarded 14 gold, six silver, and six bronze medals on the 2012 National Spanish Examinations, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Students also received 11 honorable mentions.

Nineteen students scored in the top 90th percentile on the national exam, which is each given annually to students in grades 6 to 12. D. Aileen Dodd

ATLANTA

Council approves $3 million settlement

A committee of Atlanta’s City Council voted last week to authorize a $3 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by a blind man who tripped and fell on a city sidewalk. The plaintiff, Alex Jenkins, filed a lawsuit claiming that he suffered severe injuries from the fall and that the city’s Department of Public Works was negligent in failing to repair the sidewalk before the incident. The city’s attorneys recommended the settlement, arguing that the city’s legal exposure was far higher than $3 million. On May 15, the city council’s Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee voted to approve a settlement. Jeremiah McWilliams

Buckhead Guidebook marks 18th year

The Buckhead Coalition is marking the eighteenth anniversary of its Buckhead Guidebook by donating $7,500 in advertising revenue to three community organizations: the Atlanta History Center, Buckhead YMCA and Shepherd Center. The guidebook covers tourism, relocation and development. Edited by former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell, the book is on sale at Barnes & Noble and other magazine outlets. Jeremiah McWilliams

Legal class for victims of domestic violence

The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation is offering a class Wednesday on legal options for victims of domestic violence. It starts at 1 p.m. at Atlanta-Fulton’s Central Library, One Margaret Mitchell Square, downtown Atlanta. The program, “Domestic Violence -- Lawyer in the Library,” will also cover ways to protect children. Information: 404-730-1906. Johnny Edwards

Internet class for seniors at library today

Seniors struggling with the Internet can take an introductory class today at the Bowen/Bankhead Library in Atlanta. “Introduction to Internet for Seniors” will cover the basics of online searching. The class starts at 10 a.m. at 2685 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. Information: 404-792-2646. Johnny Edwards

DEKALB

Assessments to go out on May 29

The DeKalb County Property Appraiser’s office will mail out the 2012 property assessments on May 29 this year.

Property values have dropped six percent this year, according to preliminary figures from the appraiser’s office, down to $44.2 billion countywide.

The drop follows a 13 percent plunge in countywide values last year. That drop and a new state law led to a record 19,000 appeals from property owners, most seeking to lower their assessments.

Property owners will have 45 days to file an appeal on their 2012 values once the notices are mailed out.

The county commission is expected to approve its midyear budget, which takes the new values into account, on July 10. April Hunt

Commission extends land acquisition job

The DeKalb County Commission recently agreed to extend an assistant job to support the county’s park acquisition program.

The job, which will pay about $32,000, will be extended through March 2013 to help with paperwork associated with the county’s bond-funded acquisition program.

Interest from the 2001 park bond will cover the cost. April Hunt

Center hosts lecture on urban homesteading

The DeKalb History Center will host a lecture on how urban homesteading helped transform Decatur at an event today.

The lecture will focus on how rehabilitation in the Oakhurst area helped rebrand the neighborhood into its current bustling business and residential district.

The free lecture begins at noon at the Old Courthouse on the Square in downtown Decatur. Attendees are invited to bring their lunch to the session. April Hunt

Dunwoody court offers amnesty through July 31

Dunwoody Municipal Court is holding an amnesty program for individuals with past due traffic citations or active bench warrants for failing to appear in court.

The amnesty runs through July 31 at the Dunwoody Municipal Court, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103. Individuals can walk in without appointments from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays except Tuesdays.

Fines must be paid in full with either cash, money order, cashier check or Visa and MasterCard. No personal checks will be accepted.

Information: 678-382-6973. Patrick Fox

Career expo for vets, others in Decatur

The Georgia Department of Labor and New Life Community Center will host a career expo for veterans and other job seekers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at 3592 Flat Shoals Road in Decatur.

Veterans have priority entrance into the expo from 10-11 a.m.

The expo will feature about 25 employers, educational institutions, and resource agencies which provide assistance to job seekers.

Applicants should bring plenty of resumes, be prepared to fill out company applications and to interview for available job openings.

Information: 404-298-3990 or 404- 298-3970. Kenneth Musisi

SOUTHSIDE

Two men charged in church burglary

Henry County police have arrested two men for allegedly burglarizing a church near McDonough last week. Burglars broke into Salem Baptist Church on Ga. 155 around 2 a.m. on Thursday and stole three guitars, a laptop computer, money and assorted snack items from a church concession stand. Police released a video showing the suspects ransacking the concession stand, and an anonymous tip led to the arrests of Caden Phillips, 18, and Ryan Rittberger, 20, according to Henry police Capt. Jason Bolton. Both are charged with burglary. Mike Morris

Architects to give update on new library

South Fulton book lovers and taxpayers can get a progress update today on the new Wolf Creek Library. A meeting attended by the architectural team from Leo A. Daly will be held at 7 p.m. in the South Fulton Service Center’s auditorium, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road.

The library is being built as part of a countywide $275 million construction program, whose first phase includes eight new libraries and two expansions. Construction should start later this year, with openings in late 2013 and continuing into 2014. Information: 404-730-1777. Johnny Edwards

Peachtree City plans for Memorial Day

Peachtree City’s annual Memorial Day commemoration will begin Monday at 8:30 a.m. with a patriotic golf cart parade leaving from the Gathering Place senior center. Once the procession arrives at the Veterans Memorial outside City Hall at 9 a.m., honors to the flag will be followed by a wreath presentation and music by local singer Lindee Link. Vietnam veteran Terry Garlock will be the guest speaker.

Information: www.peachtree-city.org or call 770-631-2525. Jill Howard Church for the AJC

Aviation museum to hold gala and auction

The National Museum of Commercial Aviation will hold its 4th annual Gala and Silent Auction June 23 at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. The evening will feature a gourmet buffet dinner, a program highlighting two major donations and live music.

Guests can bid on nearly 80 items in the silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the museum’s youth education and public outreach programs. The event is at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. RSVP required. Tickets are $75 a person; corporate table for $1,000. Details: 404 675-9266. Tammy Joyner

Fayette expo offers caregivers resources

Fayette Senior Services will host its second annual “We Are Here for You” Caregiver Resource Expo on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will provide information for individuals and families who need help caring for loved ones.

About 20 exhibitors will discuss such resources as companion/sitter services, adult daycare and home health services.

The expo will be at the Life Enrichment Center at 4 Center Drive in Fayetteville (across from the Justice Center). No registration is required; call 770-461-0813 for information. Jill Howard Church for the AJC